As Zhaquadan scans the area for any signs of suspicious activity, Rudo quietly grabs a javelin from the bundle strapped to his belt and moves closer to the wagon, alert and ready. Stumpy grabs his crossbow from the seat next to him and smoothly nocks a bolt.

Zhaquadan sees nothing out of the ordinary. A light breeze passes through the trees, gently swaying the branches and sighing through the leaves. Nothing else moves, or makes a sound.

He climbs down off the wagon and begins to creep toward the dead horses.

Before Zhaquadan can get more than a few feet from the wagon, Willow hisses under her breath, "Stop!".

He looks back at her, and she nods her head meaningfully up toward the thickets crowding the top of the embankments to both sides of the road.

Zhaquadan follows Willow's eyes to the rise on the left. At first he sees nothing, but then, a tiny shift of movement draws his attention. The scene quickly materializes: crouched within the depths of the shrubbery, poorly concealed under hasty camouflage, are two small, hunched humanoids. Flashes of muddy orange skin under leather armor filter through gaps in the thicket.

His gaze then shifts over to the right side of the road. The embankment there is slightly lower, but equally cluttered with bushes and shrubs. Sure enough, crouched there he sees another pair of the same diminutive, twisted figures. He even catches a momentary snatch of their quiet muttering drifting out from the ill-concealed hiding spot.

"Don't stare!" Willow whispers. Zhaquadan quickly looks back down to the horses in the road, trying to appear as if he hadn't noticed the concealed figures.

She then turns her mastiff back toward the wagon, covertly unshouldering her shortbow and nocking it with an arrow from her quiver.

"What's going on?" Steamknuckle asks loudly. Stumpy lays a hand on the gnome's forearm and shakes his head curtly, then nods in the direction of the slain horses.

Confused, Steamknuckle scans the area, seeing nothing. Then, finally, he spots movement in the bushes, and the realization dawns on him that they are being watched. He nods in understanding, and reaches into his belt pouch to retrieve a short, ornately carved pewter rod.

He murmurs a short incantation while tracing an intricate pattern in the air with the rod. As soon as he finishes, a faint, glittering light descends onto his clothes like dust, and then disappears.

OOC: Steamknuckle casts Mage Armor on himself.

Zhaquadan stares at his hammer in contemplation and prayer.   Finally he says"I am sure these people will not respond to diplomacy but they may not be capable of taking us so how do you guys want to proceed? "

Willow speaks in a subdued tone. "Those look like goblins," she says, "and around here that means Cragmaw goblins. So no, they will not respond to diplomacy. Unless the response you're looking for is to be killed, in which case they'll be very diplomatic about arranging that for you."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Fri 11 Aug 2017.

Rudo walks around to the front of the wagon. "Did I hear you say goblins? Well then, let's get to work!"

He slides his javelin back into the bundle strapped to his belt, and then reaches up to grab the greataxe slung across his back. His face seems almost giddy with bloodlust.

"No!" Willow hisses. "They don't know we've seen them yet! No, let's be smart about this. I'll take the left, you take the right." She gestures toward the forest on either side of the wagon. "Slip into the trees, get out of sight, then sneak around to flank them. The rest of you, as soon as we disappear into the trees, start rolling the wagon down the road. Slowly. They'll be watching, but it will confuse them when we split up. They'll have to either concentrate on one of us, or split up themselves. Either way they're weaker."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:03, Thu 26 Nov 2015.

"You got it, boss." Rudo looks over at Zhaquadan. "See? This kitten's got some claws."

Willow dismounts her mastiff and mutters some words into its ear. Then, she crouches down and hurries off into the woods to the north of the trail. Rudo does the same, except to the south. As soon as both have disappeared into the trees, Stumpy snaps the reins and the oxen slowly roll back into motion, with Zhaquadan and the dog walking alongside. Everyone is alert, weapons at the ready.

As the wagon party creeps forward along the trail, Zhaquadan glances at the thickets on both sides of the road where he had seen the creatures hiding. Flashes of skin and armor confirm that they remain huddled in the same spots, but now the brambles seem to be buzzing with frantic motion. Zhaquadan imagines the creatures, goblins if that's what they are, confused and agitated in their hiding spots; arguing with one another about what to do now that their ambush has apparently been thwarted.

He then scans the forest to both sides. Sure enough, he catches glimpses of both would-be assassins as they dart from tree to tree, trying their best to remain stealthy. But the woods are not very thick, and both seem to be having trouble concealing their approach, as twigs snap underfoot and branches yield loudly to their rustling passage. Rudo, in particular, crashes through the trees in his heavy chain mail armor, unable to conceal the metallic clinking of his equipment as he rushes up on his targets. The plan doesn't seem to be going very well, and the wagon travelers are certain that the ambushers will be alerted to their attackers' approach.

However, as the seconds crawl by, the creatures show no signs of awareness as to where exactly their attackers will strike. Instead they seem consumed with panic at their sudden loss of control over the situation, until eventually they emerge from their hiding spots in a sudden rush. As they burst forward, their unconcealed appearance leaves no doubt that they are, in fact, goblins. The pair on the left wield pine shortbows, drawn and ready to fire, while the ones on the right come snarling forward with scimitars and hide shields.

OOC: Combat ensues! Initiative order:

Initiative Roll	Character
20	Zhaquadan (congratulations, your first crit)
18	Willow
18	Burgess
16	Peas
16	Goblins
12	Stumpy
5	Rudo
4	Steamknuckle

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:20, Thu 26 Nov 2015.

Zhaquadan moves to attack the nearest goblin.

OOC: Melee attack with warhammer.
20:02, Today: Zhaquadan Mudsmither rolled 19 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 15.  Attempt to hit goblin. (Adjusted to manually add attack modifier of +4)
20:04, Today: Zhaquadan Mudsmither rolled 6 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 4.  1H Warhammer damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:16, Fri 27 Nov 2015.

Zhaquadan steps up to the nearest goblin and unleashes a mighty swing of his warhammer. The goblin ducks and raises his shield to block the blow, but the flimsy hide does little to stop the massive hammer's momentum. It collides squarely with its target, staggering the goblin as the shield is driven forcefully back into his shoulder with a meaty crunch.

The goblin lets out a pained yelp and teeters to the side in a dizzy arc, but manages to stay on his feet. Blood pours from his nose as he blinks through a haze of pain. It looks as if a stiff breeze might come along and finish him off.

On the far side of the road, atop the northern rise, Willow emerges stealthily from the undergrowth behind the archer goblins. They are completely unaware of her presence. She raises her shortbow and fires at the goblin nearest to her.

The arrow flies through the air and pierces the goblin through the back of his neck, driving through his throat in a gurgling spray of gore. The goblin clutches briefly at the arrow point sprouting from his throat, then tumbles forward down the embankment, dead.

OOC: Ranged attack with shortbow.
22:17, Today: Willow rolled 22 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 1,17.  Shortbow attack, with advantage due to being hidden.
22:18, Today: Willow rolled 8 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 5.  Shortbow damage.

Snarling, Burgess the mastiff leaps forward to maul the other scimitar-wielding goblin. His jaws lock down on the goblin's meaty thigh and he whips his head back and forth savagely. However, the goblin's footing is sure and strong, and he easily twists to shake off the dog's onslaught with only a minor gash to show for it.

OOC: Melee bite attack by Burgess.
22:31, Today: Wizzrobe, for the NPC Burgess, rolled 18 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 15.  Bite attack.
22:32, Today: Wizzrobe, for the NPC Burgess, rolled 2 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 1.  Bite damage.
22:35, Today: Wizzrobe, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 19 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 20.  Strength save to resist the mastiff's knock prone feature on successful bite attacks.

Steamknuckle murmurs something, and then Peas the owl leaps from his shoulder. She darts through the air to swoop down on the goblin still staggering from Zhaquadan's hammer blow, fluttering in his face and clawing at his eyes with her sharp, tiny talons. With her diminutive size she is unable to do any real damage, but manages to distract the goblin heavily as Rudo emerges from the brush with his greataxe raised in a deadly charge.

She then quickly swoops back to settle once again on Steamknuckle's shoulder.

OOC: Flying to the goblin, performing the Help action, then flying back.
The Help action (PHB p.192) is targeted at assisting Rudo's next melee attack, thereby granting him advantage on that attack.
As per the rules for "Breaking Up Your Move" (PHB p.190), Peas can perform this action in between portions of her 60 ft. flying movement.
Due to the owl's Flyby trait (PHB p.308), flying away afterward does not provoke an opportunity attack.

The heavily wounded goblin struggles to bat away Peas as she flaps her wings in his face. After she flies off, he is left swaying and disoriented on his feet. He finally manages to steady himself just long enough to glare back up at Zhaquadan, and then launch a wild counter-swing of his scimitar.

Zhaquadan is caught off guard by the sudden intensity of the swing. He raises his shield to block, but too late. The blade glances off the top of the shield and bounces up into his face, leaving a bloody slash across the dwarf's right cheek.

Meanwhile, the goblin's nearby comrade angrily counterattacks Burgess, but the dog nimbly leaps aside to dodge the swing. At the same time, the remaining archer goblin judges Zhaquadan to be the greatest visible threat due to his heavy armor and weapons, and looses an arrow at him. However, with the turmoil of the melee going on down by the road, the goblin's arrow fails to find its target, sinking harmlessly into the soil.

OOC: Melee attack with scimitar on Zhaquadan.
23:08, Today: Wizzrobe, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 21 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 17.  Melee attack with scimitar on Zhaquadan.
23:10, Today: Wizzrobe, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 7 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 5.  Scimitar damage (slashing).

Melee attack with scimitar on Burgess.
23:15, Today: Wizzrobe, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 10 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 6.  Scimitar attack.

Ranged attack with shortbow on Zhaquadan.
23:18, Today: Wizzrobe, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 7 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 3.  Shortbow attack.

Addled by drink but still sharp and sure with his aim, Stumpy snaps his crossbow up and fires a bolt at the archer goblin standing atop the rise. The shot pierces the goblin through the heart and kills him instantly.

Stumpy then grabs the reins again to try to calm the distressed oxen, who by now are urgently trying to back away from the ongoing combat.

OOC: Ranged attack with light crossbow.
23:29, Today: Stumpy rolled 15 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 8.  Light crossbow attack.
23:30, Today: Stumpy rolled 8 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 5.  Light crossbow damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:11, Fri 27 Nov 2015.

Rudo bursts forth from the undergrowth, heaving and huffing, his greataxe raised above his head. He charges the wounded goblin and swings madly. However, despite the goblin's weakened and disoriented state, Rudo's charge is so reckless that his axe simply sails harmlessly over the goblin's ducked head. The dwarf is left staggering and overextended, gaping in angry astonishment at the misfortune of his failed attack.

OOC: Melee attack with greataxe.
23:39, Today: Rudo rolled 10 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 5,2.  Greataxe attack, with advantage due to Peas' distraction.

Steamknuckle stands up on the wagon bench, weaving his hands in an intricate series of gestures while uttering an arcane phrase. He then thrusts his right hand forward, palm out, and a dazzling beam of bluish-white light springs from his palm to trace through the air toward the wounded goblin threatening his friend.

The beam strikes the goblin full in the face, instantly freezing it in a steaming crackle of ice. The goblin falls to the ground, finally dead.

OOC: Ranged attack with Ray of Frost cantrip.
23:51, Today: Steamknuckle rolled 23 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 18.  Ray of Frost cantrip attack.
23:52, Today: Steamknuckle rolled 7 using 1d8 with rolls of 7.  Ray of Frost cantrip damage (cold).

Zhaquadan moves away from the remaining enemy and casts cure wounds on himself.

00:37, Today: Zhaquadan Mudsmither rolled 11 using 1d8+6.  Cure Wounds. (Adjusted to reflect the correct full modifier)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Sat 28 Nov 2015.

Zhaquadan sheathes his warhammer to hold his hand up in a gesture of supplication while intoning a focused prayer. In an instant, the awful slash across his face closes up and disappears, leaving behind nothing but a faint trace of blood across his cheek.

OOC: Keep in mind that you can't cast spells with a somatic component when both of your hands are occupied. It's no big deal in this case, since you can draw or sheathe one weapon as a free action on any turn (see "Other Activity on Your Turn" and "Interacting With Objects Around You", PHB p.190), but this limitation might matter in certain situations. This is part of why the "War Caster" feat is useful (PHB p.170).

Willow moves out of the brush toward the edge of the northern escarpment, and fires her shortbow at the last remaining goblin. The arrow flies straight and true, piercing the goblin through the back and driving him face-first down into the dirt. He doesn't get back up.

OOC: Ranged attack with shortbow.
21:55, Today: Willow rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  Shortbow attack.
21:55, Today: Willow rolled 5 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 2.  Shortbow damage (piercing).

The party brushes themselves off, taking a moment to calm down from the excitement of the battle. All four goblins lay dead in the dirt. Rudo and Stumpy keep their weapons ready, scanning the edges of the forest for any signs of further ambushers, but their precautions amount to little more than the paranoid alertness of seasoned combat veterans. Even they relax after a moment when it becomes clear that the danger has fully passed.

Meanwhile, Willow scours the corpses of the goblins to recover her and Stumpy's spent ammunition. The arrow lodged in one goblin's throat is irreparably snapped in two, but her other arrow and Stumpy's crossbow bolt are still usable. At the same time, she checks the goblins for anything of value, but declares their primitive gear and crudely fletched arrows to be worthless. They are carrying no coins or wealth of any kind. It looks like pickings must have been slim of late in the highwayman business.

The horse carcasses remain strewn across the road, blocking the passage of the wagon.

Zhaquadan looks over all the party members to be sure none are seriously wounded then inspects the goblin bodies.   He pries open one of their mouths to have a look at its teeth.  When he is satisfied that they are all dead and can find no more evidence of a larger plot he moves silently to the road to begin inspecting the horses and attempting to drag them off the road.